Authorities said the message was reported by other students, prompting immediate action by campus police in Miami.
Student claims it was a joke
Identified as Gabriela Saldana, the student told officers the message was meant as a joke related to exam stress.
The post, sent in a group chat of over 200 students, reportedly read: “@Netanyahu can you please drop bombs on FIU. Finals are next week and I'm not ready.”
A Florida student was arrested and is now facing up to 15 years in jail for making a joke about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 20, 2026
The student allegedly wrote, “Netanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us Capstone students in the Ocean Bank Convocation… pic.twitter.com/j7r8Lu5nsq
She later allegedly added a message referencing a bomb threat at a campus venue.
Authorities treat threat as serious offence
Despite her claim, police said the message constituted a threat of harm under Florida law, especially as it referenced a specific location and upcoming event at the university’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Investigators noted that such statements, even if intended humorously, can be perceived as credible threats.
Court says ‘not a joke’ from legal standpoint
During a bond hearing, Judge Mindy Glazer acknowledged the student’s explanation but stressed that an “objective person” would not view the message as a joke.
She ruled there was sufficient probable cause for the charge, though the final outcome will depend on trial proceedings.
Saldana was granted a bond set at $5,000 as the case moves forward.
The incident highlights how online messages, even in private group chats, can carry serious legal consequences when they suggest violence or threats to public safety.